Happy Atheist Forum

Community => Social Issues and Causes => Topic started by: Bad Penny II on June 05, 2019, 04:48:20 AM

Title: A CONVICTED MURDERER CAN NEVER INHERIT THEIR VICTIM'S ESTATE
Post by: Bad Penny II on June 05, 2019, 04:48:20 AM
A CONVICTED MURDERER CAN NEVER INHERIT THEIR VICTIM'S ESTATE.

Sounds reasonable but what about someone who helps cover up the killing?
A man murders his wife, subsequently his daughter helps him avoid detection for her mother's murder.

A man is convicted of murdering his mother, his brother inherits.
Brother dies without a will so the murderer would inherit under intestacy principles, should he?
Would the time between mother's and brother deaths matter?

A couple form a suicide pact but one partner survives.
That doesn't sound like murder to me but some see it differently.

A guy kills his parents but is found not mentally fit to plea.
He does get something; his sister isn't happy about it.

What about mercy killings?

There has been a long history of domestic violence, the battered spouse kills their abuser.
What then?

https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lawreport/can-a-killer-inherit-the-estate-of-their-victim/11172420 (https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lawreport/can-a-killer-inherit-the-estate-of-their-victim/11172420)
Title: Re: A CONVICTED MURDERER CAN NEVER INHERIT THEIR VICTIM'S ESTATE
Post by: jumbojak on June 05, 2019, 12:47:19 PM
Would a spouse killing their abuser necessarily be murder though? Murder is an unjustified homicide, I can't think of a homicide more justified than that.
Title: Re: A CONVICTED MURDERER CAN NEVER INHERIT THEIR VICTIM'S ESTATE
Post by: Bad Penny II on June 05, 2019, 01:19:25 PM
Quote from: jumbojak on June 05, 2019, 12:47:19 PM
Would a spouse killing their abuser necessarily be murder though? Murder is an unjustified homicide, I can't think of a homicide more justified than that.

Another definition of murder would be unlawful killing.
A court may see it as an unlawful killing but not punish the perp.
They are still technically maybe a murderer so possibly no inheriting?
Title: Re: A CONVICTED MURDERER CAN NEVER INHERIT THEIR VICTIM'S ESTATE
Post by: jumbojak on June 05, 2019, 02:19:47 PM
Possibly, there are weird laws all over the world. If the killing was directly following an abusive episode I don't see too many juries convicting though.

But would a spouse be inheriting? Perhaps in Oz, but here I think the spouse usually coowns whatever is held in common.
Title: Re: A CONVICTED MURDERER CAN NEVER INHERIT THEIR VICTIM'S ESTATE
Post by: Ecurb Noselrub on June 05, 2019, 11:50:25 PM
In Texas a principal or accomlice willfully causing death can't inherit. Nothing about cover ups.